Multiple ironing machine



Dec. 15, 1953 J. H. LEEF 2,

MULTIPLE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 5 LL .i 49 5'0 ATTO/P/VEYJ Dec. 15, 1953 J. H. LEEF 2,662,315

MULTIPLE IRONING MACHINE Filed July 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 15, 1953 J. H. LEEF MULTIPLE IRONING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 9, 1951 INVENTOR. wimflLeefi BY W Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STAT ATENT OFFICE '6 Claims.

My present invention relates to garment ironers and, more specifically, to improvements in multiple garment ironing machines utilizing a rotary supporting structure, whereby a number of ironers mounted on said supporting structure may be loaded and unloaded by a single operator positioned at an operators station adjacent the track on which the supporting structure rotates.

More particularly, the present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the structure disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,556,477 and entitled Multiple Ironing Machine.

Several machines of the above type utilize relatively stationary actuators to cause the pressing shoes of the several ironers to move from ironer open to ironer closed positions and vice-versa as the supporting structure rotates. These actuators usually are subject to an appreciable load when in operation and, for this reason, must be firmly anchored against movement in the direc tion of travel of the supporting structure. Heretofore, the practice has been to bolt or screw the actuators to the floor or base of support for the track on which the supporting structure rotates.

If an error is made in the installation of the actuators, or if it is desired to shift the operators station about the track, the entire machine, including the supporting structure, must be removed and new anchoring bolts drilled into the fioor to receive the anchoring bolts. When the floor or base is of concrete or the like, this becomes a laborious task unless special drilling equipment is available. The primary object of my invention is, therefore, the provision of novel means for releasably anchoring the actuators in desired set positions in the path of circumferential travel of the actuator-engageable portions of ironer shoe-operating mechanism carried by the supporting structure, whereby said actuators may be adjustably moved longitudinallyof the path of travel of the supporting structure when adjustment is required.

Another object of my invention is the pro-j vision of means for anchoring said actuators to the track upon which the supporting structure is mounted and which will eliminate the drilling of holes in the floor or other supporting surface for the actuators.

Another object of my invention is the provision of anchoring means for an actuator, as set forth, having means thereon for moving said actuator laterally out of the path of travel of ironer shoe-operating mechanism normally engageable with the actuator, whereby to render 5 said mechanism inoperative.

specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a multiple garment ironing machine, built in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section, taken substantially on the line 2+2 of Fig. 1, and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. ,3 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section, as seen from the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, some parts removed and some parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail in section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings, the numeral I indicates in its entirety a supporting structure comprising a turntable 2 and a plurality of pedestal-like bases 3., The turntable 2 includes an annular supporting plate 4 secured to a concentric annular hub 5 by means of a pluralityof radial arms 6. The plate d is reinforced by concentric annular flanges l and 8, the latter of which is made from structural angle iron Welded to the plate t adjacent its peripheral edge. Depending flanges 9, one of which is shown, form bearing brackets journalling wheels it for rotation upon an endless circular track 5 l.

The bases 3 are in circumferentially spaced relation on the turntable 2 and are each equipped with one of a plurality of ironing devices I? each having a relatively stationary pressing shoe l3 and a relatively movable pressing shoe it. Each shoe i4 is provided with arms l5 rigidly secured thereto, projecting radially inwardly of the turntable and pivoted at their intermediate portions to their respective bases 3, as indicated at It. Ifhe ironers 82 have identical operating mechanisms for moving their respective movable shoes Hi from the closed position shown in Fig. 2 to a spread-apart open position and vice-versa. For the sake of brevit but one of the operating mechanisms or units will be described.

An adjustable link i! is pivotally secured to the 3 radially inner end of the arm l5, as indicated at l8. The lower end of the link ll is provided with a roller, not shown, but which is adapted to ride in a cam slot I9 in a vertical bracket 28 rigidly secured to the annular plate 4. Also pivotally secured to the lower end of the link I! is the outer end of a piston rod or plunger 2! which is equipped with a piston, not shown, but contained within a fluid pressure-operated cylinder 22 hingedly secured, as indicated at 23, to the pedestal 3. A second fluid pressure operated cylinder 26 is pivotally secured to the frame or pedestal 3, as indicated at 25, a piston-equipped plunger rod 26 which has pivotal engagement with the arm intermediate its pivot i6 and its inner end, as indicated at 21. The movable shoe I5 is biased toward an ironeropen position in a direction away from engage-- ment with the relatively fixed shoe i3 by a. coil tension spring 28 anchored at its opposite ends to the turntable 2 and the intermediate portion of the link ll.

Ironing machines of this character are gen erally constructed to provide apadded ironing shoe and a metallic faced heated ironing shoe. In this case, the stationary shoe is is padded and preferably provided with a cloth cover while the relatively movable shoe M is hollow and is heated by suitable means such as live steam. For hi troducing the heating medium to the hollow movable shoe Hi, I provide an inlet pipe 29, the lower end of which is rotatably connected to the'upper portion of a steam manifold 39 through a packing gland or the like 3|. The upper or input portion 3'3. of the manifold 30 is divided from the lower or exhaust portion 33 thereof. A plurality of inlet tubes 3 3 lead one each from the input chamber 32 of the manifold to one of the movable shoes [4. The shoes 14 are each provided with drain pipes or tubes that are connected. to the lower exhaust portion 33 of the manifold 30. The inlet and drain tubes, being flexible in. part, do not interfere with the freedom of movement of the movable shoes l4. Condensate from. the shoes is passes through the tubes 35 intov the exhaust chamber 33 from whence it is removed through a drain pipe 36 connected to the manifold 39 by a packing gland 3] and a fitting 38. The packing gland connections 31 and 3'! permit rotation of the manifold 30 while the inlet pipe 29 and drain 3% remain in a stationary condition. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the several ironers, for moving the relatively movable shoes 4, from a source of fluid supply, not shown, through a pipe as which extends upwardly through the fitting 38, the packing gland 31, and the exhaust chamber 33 by means of a suitable joint or slip connection 48. The pipe 39 extends radially outwardly of the manifold 30 and branches oil to the several ironers on the turntable 2. A branch connection 4| extends from the pipe 39 to a control valve 42. From thence, conduit means 43 and M lead to respective cylinders 22 and 2d. The structure above described is more fully disclosed in my copend'ing application filed February 15, 1950, Serial No. 144,341, and entitled Multiple Ironing Machine, now Patent No. 2,632,965, dated March 31, 1953.

Continuous and uninterrupted rotary movement at a relatively slow speed is imparted to the turntable .3 by a motor 45 which drives a shaft 46 through connections, not shown, but contained within a gear box 41. a sprocket wheel 43 is secured fast to the shaft 46 and positively drives a link chain 49 which extends about and is provided with:

and is carried within a channel 56 formed by the outer peripheral portion of the annular plate 4 and the flange 8. The chain 49 is maintained in frictional driving contact with the flange 8 by an idler pulley 5i journalled to one arm of a bell crank 52 that is pivoted to a stationary quadrant or the like 53. Pin and socket connections 54 of a conventional design are utilized to maintain the idler 5! in a position to tighten the link chain 49; This arrangement provides an inexpensive but satisfactory drive for the turntable which rotates in a clockwise direction, with respectto and. as shown by arrows in Fig. l, moving each of the ironers l2 slowly past an oper-- ators statio'nX, see Fig. 1.

The control valve 52 of each operating mechanism is provided with crank arms 55 and 56 that are connected by links 5'! and 58 respectively to respective carrier 59 and (it that are provided with pairs of cam follower rollers 61 and 62 respectively Said pairs of cam follower rollers 6i and E2 and the connections therebetween and the control valve c2 are fully disclosed in my above-mentioned copending application Se rial No. 144,341, and do not, in themselves, comprise the'instant invention. Hence, for the sake of brevity, detailed showing and description thereof is omitted.-

I provide an actuator in the nature of a rela tively stationary cam 63 disposed radially outwardly of the circular trackl! in the path of travel of the cam follower rollers 6i, and adjacent one side of the operators station X, for manipulating the control valve 42 of the ironer shoe-operating mechanisms as each thereof approach the operators station. The cam 63 is rigidly mounted on a base member 84. which, at its lower edge portion, has secured thereto a pairof radially inwardly projecting legs 65. An arcuate flange element 66 connects the inner ends of the legs 55 and is adapted to overlie the annular flange H" of the track H. A pair of circumferentially spaced angular lugs 61 are rigid- 1 secured to the track H by nut-equipped bolts or. the like 68. The lugs 6'. overlie the arcuate flange 66 and have screw-threaded therein a pair of clamping members in the nature of threaded bolts or the like 69 the lower ends of which en gage the flange B6 and press the same into clamping engagement with the track flange i l. Loosening of the clamping bolts 69 will permit movement of the cam 53 in a direction circumferentially of the track H or longitudinally of the direction of traveling movement of the cam follower rollers St. The circumferential spacing of the lugs 6'! and the length of the arcuate anchoring flange 56 is such that the cam 63 may be adjusted to an appreciable variation in distance from the operator's station. When the clamping screws 68' are tightened, the frictional engagement caused thereby by the anchoring flange B6 and the track flange l i is sufficient to retain the cam 63' in place against whatever circumferential thrust is imposed thereon by the cam follower rollers Bl a the several ironers succes'sively approach the operators station X. A second actuator in the nature of an elongated arcuate cam 10 is disposed adjacent the opposite side of the operator's station X from the cam 63', in radially outwardly spaced relation to the track H and in the path of travelling movement of the cam follower rollers 62. The cam 10 is provided intermediate its opposite ends with a pair of depending'suppor'ts' Ii which are inturned at their lower ends to provide feet 12. The feet F2 are mounted and guided for sliding movements on a base plate ill having a pair of guide elements it welded or otherwise secured thereto and overlying the inturned feet i2. A reinforcing cross bar is extends between the supports H and has its opposite ends welded or otherwise rigidly secured thereto in overlying relationship to the guide elements it. The base plate '53 is formed to provide a pair of radially inwardly projecting legs it that are welded at their inner ends to an arcuate anchoring flange ll which is adapted to rest upon the track flange II. A pair of circumferentially spaced angular lugs 78 are bolted to the track I l in overlying spaced relationship to the flange ii and have screwthreaded therein clamping screw ii), the lower ends of which are adapted to have clamping engagement with the arcuate flange T! to frictional- 1y anchor the same together with the cam 70 against movement circuniferentially of the track 5 i. A shifter bar so has its upturned inner end pivotally secured to the intermediate portion of the reinforcing bar 75, as indicated at 8!, and projects radially outwardly therefrom in a manner to enable the operator of the machine to shift the actuator cam i i laterally into and out of the path of travel of the cam follower rollers 52. By loosening the clamping screws E9, the cam 18 and parts associated therewith, including the base plate 13 and anchoring flange '71, are movable longitudinally of the path of travel of the cam follower rollers 532 toward and away from the operators station X.

The operation of the above-described machine is similar to that of the machine disclosed in my copending application above identified. As the turntable 2 rotates about its axis, the several ironers i 2 thereon are successively moved to their open position as a result of movement of the several pairs of cam followers 5! imparted thereto by the cam 63, from their inoperative to their operative positions and consequent operation of the control valve 62. As each iron-er i2 passes the operators station X, the operator place a garment to be ironed upon the relatively stationary ironing shoe I3 Assuming that the cam it] is moved laterally to its operative position in the path of travel of the cam follower rollers 52, each ironer 12, as it leaves the operators station X, is successively closed into pressing engagement with the material to be ironed by engagement of the cam ill with the cam follower rollers 52 moving the same from their inoperative to their operative positions. Speed of continuous and uninterrupted rotation of the turntable 2 is such that one revolution thereof is suilicient to complete an ironing operation. Hence, as each ironer having a garment between the ironing shoes thereof approaches the operators station K, said ironer will be caused to open to permit shifting of the garment thereon for ironing a different portion of the garment or for removal of the garment from the ironer and the placing of a different garment to be ironed thereupon, after which the ironer will be closed and the ironing cycle repeated. When it is desired to shut down the machine for a given period of time, the shifter bar so is manipulated to move the actuator earn l9 laterally out of the path of travel of the sevcam follower rollers 62. This will cause the several ironers to remain open and avoid scorching of the padding on the stationary pressing shoe it by prolonged contact with the heated shoe id.

The adjustability of the actuator cams 53 and 6 NJ in directions longitudinally of the direction of traveling movement of their respective cam followers assures opening and closing of the garment ironers in desired relationship to the op-' erators station. If, for instance, it is desired that the several ironers be open for unloading and reloading for a longer period of time than normal, the cams 6-3 and is are adjustably moved to positions a greater distance from each other and the operators station X and thereafter anchored by tightening of their respective clamping screws 69 and 19. Obviously, when a shorter ironer open time interval i desired, the actuator cams 63 and 10 are adjustably moved toward one another circumferentially of the track II. The above mounting arrangement for the cams 63 and I9 precludes the anchoring of the cams directly to the floor and eliminates any error in the placement thereof such as sometimes occurs when said cams are bolted or otherwise anchored to the floor or like base of support.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my novel device, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an ironing machine, relatively movable cooperating supporting elements, one being a track; and the other a wheel structure engaging said track, an ironer mounted for movement with one of said elements and having operating mechanism disposed adjacent the other said element, an actuator also disposed and movably supported adjacent said other element for engagement with and actuation of said operating mechanism, and relatively shiftable interengaging means on said other element and said actuator for selectively positioning and adjustably connecting said actuator to said other element whereby the time of operation of said ironer may be predetermined and set for actuation thereof upon said relative movement of said elements.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of operating mechanisms and a plurality of cam-like actuators therefor are disposed adjacent said other supporting element, and wherein the plurality of actuators are separately and independently adjustably supported from said other supporting element for predetermined actuation of said operating mechanisms, upon relative movement of said elements.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of operating mechanisms and a plurality of actuators therefor are disposed adjacent said other supporting element, and separate supporting arms having their inner ends clamped to said track for relative adjustment therealong are rigidly connected at their outer ends respectively to said actuators.

4. n an ironing machine having a supporting track, a machine supporting structure mounted for traveling movement on said track, operating mechanism for said machine including an actuator engagin element depending from said machine supporting structure adjacent said track, an actuator disposed in the path of travel of said engaging element and adjacent said track, and relatively shiftable interengaging means on said track and actuator and connecting said actuator to said track for adjustment therealong, whereby to vary the time of operation of said ironing machine. during travel of said -.supporting:.structurealor g said track.

5. The structure recited in claim wherein thetrack isvcircular andrthe relatively shiftable interengaging means on the track and. actuator comprises an arcuate track engaging flange and a releasable clamping member engaging therewith.

6. The structure recited in clan-n4, wherein a plurality of operating mechanismsfland a plu- 1O 556477 8 ralityci-actuators. therefor are disposed. adjacent said track,:.and wherein thezactuators are separate V cam elements having adjustable supportinglconnection with-said track.

JOHN H. LEEF.

References ,ACitedin the...fi1e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date -Leef June 12, 1951 Number 

